Cooperative work type application service system

ABSTRACT

A collaborative work environment is provided that is composed of collaborative work environment means that, in a process of “Digital manufacturing” making use of simulation, selects an appropriate support staff member based on the content of an enquiry, selects a target simulation tool through cooperation between a user and the support staff member, has the selected simulation tool executed, re-executes the tool if necessary as the simulation result is being discussed and generates data for the following process, as well as a wide variety of application servers connected to the Internet. An evolution towards the effective use of experts and skillful and experienced persons serving as support staff, an improvement in work efficiency of users and the like, and a novel service architecture of the Internet use form is projected.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is concerned with a processing form for promotingwork with the aim that users, in a pattern of use offering applicationservice on the basis of a network system represented by the Internet,cooperate with experts and experienced and skillful persons in eachfield, and pertains in particular to simulation means, represented byComputer Aided Design (CAD), and a system implementing a systemarchitecture suitable for computer experiments, virtual prototyping,and, in addition, actual prototyping work processes integrating virtualprototyping results, based on the simulation results of the simulationmeans.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, accompanying the explosive growth of the Internet, itspatterns of use have also advanced from the use of electronic mail, inthe initial stage of the Internet, to information searches of everykind, such as publication searches, and information provisionfunctionality, such as corporate advertising offers, all of which haverecourse to the World Wide Web (WWW).

Also, there is an evolution in progress towards a novel Internetarchitecture, towards a form of operating a wide variety of applicationson the basis of servers connected to the Internet system, and ofproviding these applications over the Internet.

This form of service provision is also called the Application ServiceProvider (ASP) form, there being electronic mail system and accountingcalculation processing ASPs. Regarding Internet mail and the course ofdevelopment of the Internet including WWW, articles are included in thereference documents below.

(1) F. E. Hart et al.: The Interface Message Processor for the ARPANetwork, Proc. SJCC, Vol. 36, pp. 551-567 (1970).

(2) T. S. Perry: E-MAIL, Pervasive and Persuasive, IEEE Spectrum,October 1992, pp. 20-30 (1992).

(3) Haruhisa Ishida: The Internet has come this far—The Present Stateand Topics, Jouhou Shori, Vol. 39, No. 5, pp. 393-399 (1998).

Incidentally, on the advanced research & development and technologicaldevelopment scene, huge trial and error work has become indispensable,and risks during development have increased. In particular, on the“Digital manufacturing” research & development and technologicaldevelopment scene, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer AidedManufacturing (CAM), Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), Computer AidedTesting (CAT), and the like, are being utilized as simulation means fordesign, shaping, analysis, and testing.

Since the group of these simulation tools is costly, there are fundingbarriers preventing each company from acquiring these individually, andit is expected that the utilization of ASPs over the Internet will offera solution to that problem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, as conventional simulation means, the object is stored asdata with Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) or Boundary Representation(B-rep).

However, with CSG, because the whole of the object is stored as anaggregate of infinitesimal solid models, the data are heavy, and in thecase of implementation as simulation means, there was the problem that avery long time was required for the analysis.

Also, since, with B-rep, the object is implemented with its boundaries,the data are light and the data volume is lowered, but since theinterior of the boundary face is handled uniformly, there was theproblem that it was not suitable for deformation analysis.

With the group of the wide variety of simulation tools mentioned above,since the data representations of the representation information of theobject differ individually, it is necessary, in order to put CAD, CAM,CAE, and CAT to practical use in the ASP service form, for the user toperform a data format conversion between each simulation tool, so thereremained the problem that the merits of using ASP did not materialize.

Concerning the topic of the reduction of the data volume of the object,the same applicant has previously made filings, through the Japanesepatent applications No. 2001-25023 and No. 2001-210508. According tothese inventions, because it is possible to divide the geometric data ofthe object into the cell of the cube intersected at right angles by theboundary plane obtained by octree partitioning and to store them intoboundary cells and interior cells, one can administer, with identicalstructures, data related to a series of processes, from design toshaping, assembly, testing, and evaluation, so it has been possible toadvance one step towards the unification of simulation tools such asCAD, CAM, CAE, and CAT. These data are named V-CAD data.

On the one hand, in “Digital manufacturing”, there are many differentkinds of CAD, CAM, CAE, and CAT simulation tools, and the actual stateof affairs is that simulations are executed while receiving the supportof experts and skillful and experienced persons. Based on thissituation, the following issues arise when unifying the group of thesesimulation tools in the ASP form:

(1) It is difficult for the user to judge which simulation tool to usewhen there are too many alternatives from which to choose.

(2) It becomes a problem from the point of view of operating expenses tohave a multitude of simulation tools integrated on the ASP side, eachsimulation tool being costly.

On the other hand, for users (customers), it is desirable that a userenvironment become complete for performing “Digital manufacturing” byusing an ASP while receiving support from designers, experts, andskillful and experienced persons, so there are expectations for anevolution towards a novel application service architecture of theInternet use form.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide acollaborative work type application service system, in “Digitalmanufacturing” processes making use of simulation tools, that allows forsimulation work in which users cooperate with designers, experts, andskillful and experienced persons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a servicesystem architecture making it possible, in collaborative work typeapplication service systems, to use the desired simulation tools onlywhen needed.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide aservice system architecture in which designers, experts, and skillfuland experienced persons able to handle the resolution of the user'sproblems can be perceived by the user to be close to him.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram directly showing the concept of a collaborative worktype application service system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of cooperative type ASPwork environment means 100, representative in terms of hardware andsoftware, for a concrete embodiment related to a collaborative work typeapplication service system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the format of a support staff managementtable 7 (Support Management Table: SMT).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the format of a required processing functionmanagement table 8 (Application Management Table: AMT).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the processing flow of helpdesk centerprocessing means 10.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow of a required function selection executionprocessing portion 11 within collaborative work environment means 102.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In order to attain the objects of the invention, the collaborative worktype application service system of the present invention is composed ofhelpdesk center means selecting an appropriate support staff memberbased on the contents of an enquiry coming from the user and creating adialog environment for the user and the support staff member,collaborative work environment means selecting a simulation tool for theobjective towards which the user and the selected appropriate supportstaff member are cooperating, executing the selected simulation tool,re-executing the simulation tool if necessary and generating data forthe following process, as well as a wide variety of application serversconnected to the Internet.

In the helpdesk center means, there is WWW server functionality so thatthe user is able to use the World Wide Web, a selection of a supportstaff member appropriate to the request from the user if the user inputsdesired functions from the WWW interface screen, and the function ofcontacting the appropriate support staff member. Contact with thesupport staff member is handled by driving electronic mail transmission,telephone calls or mobile telephone calls. The contacted supported staffmember accesses the dialog environment means provided by the helpdeskcenter means. As a result of this, the dialog between the user and thesupport staff member gets established. The dialog environment means isbased on exchanges using the World Wide Web, but electronic mail incombination with telephony or video telephony may also be used.

In the collaborative work environment means, processing functions areprovided for selecting the target simulation tool, through cooperationbetween the user and the selected appropriate support staff member, andwith a reflection of the opinions coming from the knowledge andexperience of the support staff member, transferring simulation tooldata to an application server connected to the Internet in order to havethe selected simulation tool executed, visualizing the simulation resultand, and as it is being discussed, [re]executing the tool, if necessary,for a second time, as well as the subsequent process, e.g. thegeneration of data for a numerically controlled (NC) shaping device.

According to the cooperative type application service system of thepresent invention, since the user, in cooperation with designers,experts, and skillful and experienced persons, operates consistently,from the preparation of the simulation work to the execution of thesimulation and the generation of NC data, it is projected to evolvetowards an effective use of experts and skillful and experienced personsserving as support staff, an improvement in work efficiency of users andthe like, and a novel service architecture of the Internet use form.Also, since the cooperative type application service system of thepresent invention selects a server of the type of Internet-connectedapplication servers in which many different kinds of simulation toolsare installed, and executes the desired simulation, the result is thatit is possible to jointly use many different kinds of simulation tools,so a reduction in expenses is projected.

Below, a detailed explanation using the drawings is given concerning anembodiment of the present invention. Further, an embodiment applied to aseries of “Digital manufacturing” processes is shown here, but thecooperative type application service system of the present invention canbe applied even in case of the execution of various [other] kinds ofapplications requiring support staff, and it is not necessarily limitedto an application to “Digital manufacturing” processes.

FIG. 1 shows directly the concept of the collaborative work typeapplication service system, and FIG. 2 shows the configuration ofcooperative type ASP work environment means 100, representative in termsof hardware and software, for a concrete embodiment related to acollaborative work type application service system.

Based on the above-mentioned group of components, a user 1 and a supportstaff member 2 work together on cooperative type ASP work environmentmeans 100, i.e. cooperatively advance the work for the purpose ofresolving a “Digital manufacturing” problem.

User 1 accesses the cooperative type ASP work environment means 100, acomponent of the present invention, by using a client terminal 4connected to the Internet 3. In concrete terms, if he inputs therequested function using the WWW interface screen supplied by helpdeskcenter means 101, helpdesk center means 101 selects a support staffmember appropriate to the request from the user, and displays a list ofselected candidates to client terminal 1. In the displayed support staffmember candidate list, the support staff names are of course listed, aswell as specialty fields, experience, and track records. The userselects the support staff member candidate that he prefers from thelist. Naturally, he can designate several support staff members. Next,contact is made with the support staff member selected by the user.Contact with the support staff member is handled by driving transmissionof electronic mail, telephone calls or mobile telephone calls. Thecontacted support staff member, using a support staff terminal 6,accesses dialog means provided in helpdesk center means 101. As resultof this, a dialog environment gets established between user 1 andsupport staff member 2. The dialog means is based on exchanges using theWorld Wide Web, but electronic mail in combination with telephony orvideo telephony may also be used.

Subsequently, user 1 and support staff member 2 use jointlycollaborative work environment means 102 and, while exchanging opinions,select a simulation tool appropriate to the simulation functionrequested by user 1, e.g. a casting process simulation, a metal moldsimulation, or a micromachining simulation. When the simulation tool tobe used is decided upon, user 1 transfers geometric data from clientterminal 4 to collaborative work environment means 102 of cooperativetype ASP work environment means 100.

In collaborative work environment means 102, the received geometric dataare stored in temporary files, and internal cells and boundary cells arecreated with the method given in Japanese patent applications No.2001-25023 and No. 2001-210508 and, after the data have been stored asmodeling files, the contents of the concerned files are transferred toservers 5 a to 5 n (any one from AP1 to APn) in which the previouslyselected simulation tool is installed, and execution of the simulationis requested. When the simulation execution result coming from AP1 toAPn is sent to collaborative work environment means 102 over theInternet 3, user 1 and support staff member 2 discuss whether thesimulation result is the desired one and, if necessary, modify theparameters and reiterate a request for execution of the simulation.

If the desired result has been obtained, NC machining data are generatedif necessary, and the NC machining data are sent to client terminal 4 ofuser 1.

Subsequently, using the embodiment of FIG. 2 and the following figures,an explanation of a representative overall picture of the collaborativework type application service system will be given. Each processingmeans of FIG. 2, being a group of processing programs operating under aUNIX or other Operating System (OS), can be handled by handled byindividual hardware devices and OS for each program, but the group ofthese processing programs may also coexist under one OS.

A client interface processing portion 9 in FIG. 2 provides a WWWinterface in the cooperative type ASP work environment means server 100handling client terminal 4 and support staff terminal 6 in FIG. 1. Inaddition, dialog means 10 a is a memory area for information on theexchanges between user 1 and support staff member 2. There may also be aplurality of support staff members 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the format of support staff management table7 (Support Management Table: SMT), this SMT 7 being loaded into the mainmemory of cooperative type ASP work environment means server 100. In SMT7, support staff names 7 a, specialty fields 7 b, telephone numbers 7 c,and mail addresses 7 d are stored. In the field 7 b for specialtyfields, numbers of years of experience, track records, and so forth arestored. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the format of the request processingfunction management table 8 (Application Management Table: AMT) shown inFIG. 2, a processing function field 8 a and a detailed informationaddress 8 aa, function explanatory information field 8 b, as well as URL(Uniform Resource Locator) addresses 8 c of execution APn being storedtherein. This AMT 8 is also loaded into the main memory of cooperativetype ASP work environment means server 100. Further, the Internetaddress format of the URLs is specified in the Internet protocol RFC(Request For Comment).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the process flow of helpdesk centerprocessing means 10 and, using FIG. 5, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, theprocessing of helpdesk center processing means 10 will be explained.

Referring to FIG. 5, when helpdesk center means 10 gets passed thecontrol from client interface 9, processing of the series of processingsteps from step 10 a to 10 c is executed. In processing step 10 a, SMT 7is searched and a support staff member corresponding to the workrequested from client terminal 4 is selected. This search is performedby carrying out a comparison check of specialty field data fields 7 bcorresponding to the work request stored in dialog means 10 a.Consequently, there may also be cases when several support staffcandidates are detected. As a result of the comparison selectionprocessing, if corresponding support staff members are found, the listof the support staff candidates is displayed to client terminal 4. User1 selects a preferred person from the candidate list displayed to clientterminal 4. At this time, he may also select several support staffmembers. Subsequently, the mail address of the support staff membercorresponding to the support staff member designated by user 1 inprocessing step 10 b is obtained from mail address field 7 d, andInternet mail message and mail address formats are generated inaccordance with RFC 821.

Subsequently, through processing step 10 c, the mail body is sent to theSendMail function implemented in server 100 in order to send theelectronic mail message to Internet mail. E.g., in the UNIX (OSdeveloped by Bell Labs of AT&T Inc. and a trademark of The Open Group)SendMail function processing process, this mail body is sent over theInternet to the mail server of the domain specified in the mail addressof support staff member 2, and the support request from the user isnotified to terminal 6 of support staff member 2. If several supportstaff members have been selected, the several support staff members arenotified. Here, an example of sending an electronic mail message toInternet mail has been shown, but the system is not limited to a contactmethod by electronic mail. If telephone number 7 c of SMT 7 is utilized,contact by phone is also possible.

An environment becomes complete in which support staff member 2contacted about the support request performs joint work, using supportstaff terminal 6, together with user 1 through dialog means 10 a of FIG.2, a telephone or a video telephone. After this, user 1 and supportstaff member 2 work together, i.e. cooperate, to advance the appropriatework for the work desired by the user.

FIG. 6 is a process flow of the requested function selection executionprocessing portion 11 within the collaborative work environment means102 shown in FIG. 2. Further, in FIG. 6, for ease of explanation, aprocess flow is described for the case of a single support staff member2; in the case of a plurality of support staff members, the exchangeprocessing with the support staff members ends up being repeated severaltimes.

Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, in processing step 11 a of FIG.6, AMT 8 is searched and a simulation tool corresponding to work requestfrom user 1 is selected. E.g., if the request from the user is metalmold making work, function field 8 a of AMT 8 in FIG. 4 is searched. Asa result of this, the “metal mold simulation” entry 8 a 1 stored infunction field 8 a is in agreement. This search processing searches allentries. As a consequence, there are some cases in which several entriesare selected, in which case those several entries all become candidates.

In processing step 11 b, program function explanatory information field8 b, to which address 8 aa 1 stored in the selected entry is pointing,is stored in dialog means 103. As a result of this, user 1 and supportstaff member 2 can jointly refer to the simulation tool.

In processing step 11 c, support staff member 2 refers to and examinesthe explanatory information, stored in dialog means 103, on thefunctions of the simulation tool, and gives proposals and comments touser 1. These proposals and comments can be directly written into adomain of dialog means 103, but is also possible to carry out anexchange by telephone or video telephone. In the example of processingstep 11 c, an embodiment is shown in which support staff member 2 anduser 1 write to dialog means 103.

If an execution reply from user 1 is written, processing steps 11 d andonwards are subsequently executed.

In processing step 11 d, a geometric data receiving portion 12 in FIG. 2is driven, geometric data from client terminal 4 of user 1 are receivedand are stored in a geometric data field 12 a.

In the subsequent processing step 11 e, a geometric data cell generationprocessing portion 13 is driven, a geometric data cell and a physicalvolume cell are generated from geometric data and are stored in amodeling data file 13 a. The data in the geometric data cell and thephysical volume data stored in this modeling data file 13 a serve asstandard data for each simulation tool.

In the processing step 11 f of FIG. 6, through a transfer of the datastored in modeling data file 13 a to the server (any server from amongAP1 to APn) in which the simulation tool selected and decided upon inprocessing step 11 c is installed, the simulation processing is executedin the concerned server.

When the simulation at ASPn terminates (processing step 11 g), theresult data transmitted from the server of ASPn are stored in asimulation result file 14 a and are visually displayed, if necessary, toclient terminal 4 and support staff terminal 6 (not illustrated) inprocessing step 11 h. User 1 and support staff member 2 examine thesimulation result. This is to say that there comes about an examinationof the simulation result in a telediscussion.

In case parameters are modified and the tool is re-executed as a resultof the examination, the above-mentioned processing steps from step 11 dto 11 h may be reiterated until the user is satisfied with the result.

When the simulation result has become satisfactory, an NC datageneration processing portion 15 is driven, NC data are generated andare stored in an NC data file 15 a in processing step 11 i. After that,NC data are transferred to client terminal 4.

In the embodiment mentioned above, an example of a configuration isgiven in which each server is connected to the Internet, but, naturally,the system includes a configuration in which each server is connected toa Local Area Network (LAN) on the same campus.

In addition, the embodiment mentioned above is an embodiment applied tothe “Digital manufacturing” work processes of the collaborative worktype application service system of the present invention, but it canalso be applied to applications in which the user and the support staffmember execute work processes jointly, i.e. through cooperation.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, since the user,designers, experts, and skillful and experienced persons in cooperationperform operations consistently, from the preparation of the simulationwork to the execution of the simulation and the generation of NC data,it is possible to evolve towards an effective use of experts andskillful and experienced persons serving as support staff, animprovement in work efficiency of users and the like, and a novelservice architecture of the Internet use form. Also, since thecooperative type application service system of the present inventionselects a server of the type of Internet-connected application serversin which many different kinds of simulation tools are installed, andexecutes the desired simulation, the result is that it is possible tojointly use many different kinds of simulation tools, so a reduction inexpenses is projected.

1. A collaborative work type application service system having a configuration, in which helpdesk center means (101), by means of which a user (1) and a support staff member (2) exchange messages, in a prototype making process, collaborative work environment means (102), executing, in response to a request from the user in cooperation with the support staff member, a selection of an application server (5 a to 5 n) executing an appropriate simulation, a terminal (4) of the concerned user, a terminal (6) of the support staff member, the concerned service system, and application servers (5 a to 5 n) are connected in a network, the system consisting of a processing step in which a support staff member appropriate to the work request from the user is selected and contact is made with the concerned support staff member, a processing step in which the contacted support staff member and the user, by an exchange of messages, work together to select a simulation tool optimal for the work request, a processing step in which an execution of the selected simulation tool is requested to the server in which the simulation tool is installed, a processing step in which the execution result of the simulation processing is received and a check of the result is performed, and a processing step in which, if an appropriate result was obtained as a result of the check, the result data are sent to the terminal of the user.
 2. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, wherein said network connection consists of being connected to the Internet.
 3. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1 wherein, for the contact, in said helpdesk center means, with the support staff member, electronic mail, telephony, or video telephony constitutes a valid medium.
 4. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, characterized in that the user, in said helpdesk center means, files his request for prototyping work from the World Wide Web.
 5. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, having a processing step in which, when a support staff member appropriate to the work request from the user of claim 1 is selected, a list of support staff members able to respond to the work request is made known to the user, and the user can select from the list of support staff members able to respond.
 6. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 5, having a processing step in which, when the user of claim 5 makes a selection from the list of support staff members able to respond, a plurality of support staff members can be designated.
 7. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, characterized in that said collaborative work environment means is provided with a common domain for discussion between the user and the support staff member.
 8. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, having a processing step in which, when the support staff member, and the user, of claim 1 work together through an exchange of messages to select an optimal simulation tool for the work request, the selection is made on the basis of the proposals and comments of the support staff member.
 9. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, characterized in that said collaborative work environment means handles the exchange of messages between the user and the support staff member through telephony, video telephony, or the World Wide Web.
 10. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, characterized in that said collaborative work environment means selects a server, connected to the Internet, in which the simulation tool corresponding to the processing request is installed.
 11. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, characterized in that said collaborative work environment means selects the server in which the simulation tool corresponding to the processing request is installed from among the concerned collaborative work environment means and the group of servers connected to a Local Area Network
 12. The collaborative work type application service system according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the user, and the support staff member, of claim 1 work together to select an optimal simulation tool, the selection from among the candidate simulation tools reflects the opinions and comments of the support staff member.
 13. A collaborative work type application service program, being a helpdesk center processing program, whereby a user and a support staff member exchange messages, and a collaborative work environment processing program, executing a selection, in response to a request from the user in cooperation with the support staff member, of an application server executing an appropriate simulation, having a processing step in which a support staff member appropriate to the work request from the user is selected and contact is made with the concerned support staff member, a processing step in which the contacted support staff member and the user, by an exchange of messages, work together to select a simulation tool optimal for the work request, a processing step in which an execution of the selected simulation tool is requested to the server in which the simulation tool is installed, a processing step in which the execution result of the simulation processing is received and a check of the result is performed, and a processing step in which, if an appropriate result was obtained as a result of the check, the result data are sent to the terminal of the user.
 14. A record medium in which a helpdesk center processing program, whereby a user and a support staff member exchange messages, and a collaborative work environment processing program, executing a selection, in response to the request from the user in cooperation with the support staff member, of an application server executing an appropriate simulation, are loaded, said programs having a processing step in which a support staff member appropriate to the work request from the user is selected and contact is made with the concerned support staff member, a processing step in which the contacted support staff member and the user, by an exchange of messages, work together to select a simulation tool optimal for the work request, a processing step in which an execution of the selected simulation tool is requested to the server in which the simulation tool is installed, a processing step in which the execution result of the simulation processing is received and a check of the result is performed, and a processing step in which, if an appropriate result was obtained as a result of the check, the result data are sent to the terminal of the user. 